The Difference Between Minoxidil Finasteride

Which Is More Suitable For You?

Knowing the differences between products is essential when trying to evaluate how they will treat your problem. Two of the most used substances in treating hair loss are minoxidil and finastride. These two substances, even though both reported to have great results in treating different types of alopecia, have different ways of action as well as different side effects. This is why, before choosing a product containing one or the other substance, it is necessary to understand how they are different and how this difference will affect you.

Minoxidil (known by customers as Rogaine or Regaine) is used for treating hair loss in both men and women. It is available in 5% topic and foam form which is recommended for men only as well as in form of a 2% lotion which can be used by both men and women. On the other hand, finastride (Propecia) can only be used for treating male pattern baldness. Even though some doctors may also recommend it for women, there have been scarce cases in which the treatment with finastride has given good results for female pattern baldness. Moreover, the company producing finastride cautions pregnant women or women who want to get pregnant in the near future to stay away from this substance as it may cause fetal malformation, especially in male fetuses.

The other major difference between these two substances lies in the way in which they function. Finastride is well known as one of the most powerful DHT inhibitor. It blocks the 5-alpha reductase enzyme which transforms testosterone in DHT thus limiting its formation. This stops hair loss and allows hair follicle to revive. If the way in which finastride functions is well known, the manner in which minoxidil acts on the hair follicle is still rather unclear. All that scientists have been able to discover so far is that minoxidil is a potassium channel opener, which leads to the hyperpolarization of the cell membranes. Also, it widens the blood vessels, thus allowing more nutrients and oxygen to reach the hair follicle and stimulate the hair growth.

Minoxidil is quite safe, very few side effects being reported. Among these, mild irritation, redness, itching and dandruff are the most common. There have been also some cases in which rapid heart rate, swelling, rash, tightness in the chest have been reported, but these were mainly allergic reactions to minoxidil. If you happen to have one of these, stop the treatment and go se a doctor.

Finastride, on the other hand is in the middle of a heated debate about side effects and the way in which it affects patients. Apart from the above mentioned dangers for women, Finastride has also been reported as causing serious side effects on men. Sexual dysfunctions and impotence are the most frequent side effects caused by finastride and even though the company producing Propecia claimed these are only temporary results, more and more men claim they are in fact irreversible.

Now you know what to expect from each one of these substances and you can take an educated decision. As for their results, the can hardly be predicted, as most of the time they vary from patient to patient.